Two Area Men Get Long Prison Sentences For Trafficking Fentanyl And Methamphetamine

32-year-old Ashton Durrell Farley of Hickory and 46-year-old Thomas Eugene Ikard of Lenoir have both been sentenced in connection with a drug distribution conspiracy. Farley was sentenced to 235 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release and Ikard was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release. Both suspects pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.

The announcement was made June 17 by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Ferguson was joined by Catawba County Sheriff Don Brown and Hickory Police Chief Reed Baer.

35-year-old Dustin Eric Wilson of Charlotte and 37-year-old Harold Marquis Wilfong of Hickory were previously sentenced after pleading guilty in connection with the same case.

Federal charges were filed against the defendants following a 10-month investigation led by the A.T.F. and the Hickory Police Department. The drug trafficking ring operated out of Hickory and distributed large quantities of fentanyl and meth in the area. Leading to the arrests, A.T.F. agents and Hickory Police made controlled drug purchases, conducted physical surveillance, and executed search warrants. Law enforcement seized multiple kilograms of fentanyl, meth, and marijuana, along with multiple firearms and ammunition, including an AR-15 rifle and a privately made firearm or “ghost gun.”

Members of the drug ring used several residences either as “stash houses” to store drugs and/or guns, or to conduct drug sales and other drug trafficking activities. One of the alleged stash houses was located two blocks from the federal courthouse in Charlotte.